Orange & Black Breakdown

It’s the first Monday of 2012, and all the talk around Philadelphia is the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Not the mummers. Not (really) the eagles. Not the Phillies, unless if course they were talking about how Roy Halladay saved a man from an anaconda attack the other day.

We’re set to begin in Philadelphia…

Nope, Flyers hockey has completely has completely engulfed the city. But through all of the admittedly spectacular distraction, there is still a meaningful hockey game to be played. The conference is on the line, and we’re breaking it down from a windy and wild Citizen’s Bank Park after the jump!

The big news coming out of the park earlier today is the season debut of Rangers defenseman Mark Staal. Though he won’t be racking up big minutes today from a 3rd pairing role, his presence helps bring a different dynamic to the Rangers back end. The Flyers would be wise to pester him a bit whenever he takes the ice in order to make him as uncomfortable as possible out there, because if he settles down it could mean trouble.

In the last two games between these two clubs, the Rangers have really been able to dictate the flow and tempo of the game. The Flyers should focus all their energy on coming out flying in order to get the expected crowd of 45,000+ going early, while also helping to neutralize the potent Rangers offense. For the Flyers, their game plan should begin and end with a fast start.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a spectacle in Philadelphia if all eyes weren’t on the crease. The pressure falls squarely on the shoulders of young netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, as he will be looking to vindicate his coach and prove all the doubters wrong in the biggest game of his career. His claim to fame throughout his amateur tenure was always his ability to come up big in times of need, and the stage doesn’t get much needier than this. Against a powerhouse offense like the Rangers, the Flyers will live and die by their goaltending when the puck drops in Citizens Bank Park.

I hope everyone is staying warm and getting ready for what should prove to be a fantastic spectacle for a number of reasons – The teams are on the ice for warmups now; the puck is about to drop!

About Orange & Black Breakdown

The Orange & Black Breakdown looks to be the ultimate, around the clock source for news and information on the Philadelphia Flyers organization and it’s ever-present quest for the Stanley Cup. Focusing on what the team can do to achieve success is the ultimate goal.

The OBB is written and maintained by myself - Marc Siciliano. I’m a college graduate and media production professional in the sports industry with credits on projects like Hard Knocks: Bengals and 24/7 Penguins vs. Capitals: Road to the Winter Classic. A man of many hobbies, I always seem to find a way to spend a disproportionate amount of my daily routine with two things: Flyers hockey and social media (much to the dismay of my hockey impartial friends on twitter).

So what does this mean for you? The plan is to combine these time-wasting habits passions with my love for writing to provide you with complete coverage of the Flyers from both my head and around the web, 24/7.

This is my second writing stint focusing on the Flyers, but for a much larger audience - so do be gentle. Different perspectives and opinions on the organization are welcome and encouraged. Just because I see it one way doesn’t mean I’m beyond seeing it your way as well, so speak up!